Peppermint Pinwheels & Giveaway!

This year I decided to participate in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap hosted by Lindsay of Love & Olive Oil and Julie of The Little Kitchen. The idea is simple—make three dozen homemade cookies and mail them to three lucky bloggers, Secret Santa style. A few days later, I would find my own mailbox filled with boxes of homemade cookies. And the best part? I could enjoy them knowing someone out there made them especially for me.

When I first heard about this exchange back in October, I was immediately sold. How fun was this idea? Not only do I love sharing my baked goods with others, but I love getting packages in the mail. It was absolutely a win-win situation for me.

But, as the days ticked by, I struggled to come up with an idea for a cookie. I went to the library and picked up half a dozen cookbooks just on the subject of cookies. I flipped through each and every one, feeling more and more uninspired as I turned the pages. Even Martha Stewart, the goddess of all things sweet, couldn't spark my creative interest. As the weeks flew by and I found myself swallowed in work, original cookie ideas were simply lost to the wind.

When the date of the cookie swap finally loomed overhead, the month and a half I had to come up with a fun cookie idea was reduced to all of 10 minutes and restricted to the ingredients already in my kitchen. Out of this exigence, the idea for these Peppermint Pinwheels was born. While the idea may not be original, it doesn't make the pinwheel sandwiches any less fun (or delicious).

After baking and individually packaging each cookie for a safe journey across the country, I wished my cookies well on their journey, hoping the mouths to receive them would enjoy them as much as I did.

Inspired by the idea of a cookie exchange, I thought it would be fun to send out a dozen cookies to you. Yes, you! And so three of you lucky readers will find a box of handmade cookies sitting in your mailbox in the next week. I love getting mail and, when it just so happens to be edible mail, it just makes it that much more fun. I want to share in the season of giving with you!

To find a box of cookies on your doorstep...
1. Leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite holiday cookies. Make sure to include your email address when filling out the comment form so I can get ahold of you!
2. You must live in the United States or Canada. I unfortunately cannot afford to send cookies further away (and I fear they may arrive shattered after such a long journey).
3. The contest will end on Wednesday, December 14th at 10 pm (cst) and the winners will be chosen randomly and announced on Facebook and Twitter immediately thereafter (and on here Thursday morning).

Good luck!

Peppermint Pinwheels are bold and colorful holiday cookies. Featuring vanilla sugar cookies and peppermint buttercream frosting, the cookies have no shortage of flavor. The cookie sandwiches are surprisingly soft, making it difficult to eat just one. While pinwheel cookies may appear intimidating, just note that, if you can roll out dough for cut-out cookies, there is no reason you couldn't whip up a batch of these since the same concepts apply. Do not skimp on refrigerator time and these cookies should turn out just as beautiful for you!

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Peppermint Ice Cream

I've decided we all get a free pass until the new year. Since I discovered that it is impossible for me to eat healthy with all this holiday baking lying around, I am releasing myself (and you) from guilt. No more feeling guilty about sneaking an extra cookie. No more regret over a smuggled chocolate or two. And certainly no more shame over taking an extra scoop of ice cream (especially if its peppermint).

Perhaps I am just the one that needs a free pass (or possibly a bit of self control). Though I don't think two more days of gluttony would do anyone much harm at this point, right?

As my sister put it this morning through a mouthful of puppy chow, "I am going to eat all of this anyway. I might as well get it over with now so I can finally move on."

Truer words have never been spoken.

So I say eat the rest of the holiday goodies. Share them with friends. Neighbors. The office. Let's banish (or devour) the sweets from our homes so we can start off the new year right (you know, without a sugar high and mild case of diabetes).

This peppermint ice cream is thick and creamy. It is made using the same method as French vanilla, rendering it smooth and absolutely divine. Candy canes are mixed into the ice cream, which add a unique texture and little peppermint flavor pockets to each and every bite. If you want a little extra crunch, feel free to add a sprinkling of crushed candy canes to the top just before serving. Make this for the holidays, make this for New Year's, or you could just make it all for yourself.

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